Treasurer Eric Abetz has faced questions on the first parliamentary sitting day of the year after saying police have a “more difficult role” than other public sector workers.
Labor leader Josh Willie used question time on Tuesday to ask Premier Jeremy Rockliff to publicly reject comments made by Abetz last month, which he said had added to tensions during a months-long wage dispute.
“Do you agree with Treasurer Abetz that police have a harder job than our health workers, school staff, correctional officers and child safety staff?” he asked.
“If not, will you stand up for your workforce and publicly reject his comments?”
The premier said the state government “value all members of the public service irrespective of the role they play”.
He pointed to recently finalised agreements with police, firefighters, facility attendants and doctors as evidence of good faith bargaining.
Abetz said his comments had been misrepresented.
“All Tasmanians in the public service do a great job for our fellow Tasmanians and let there be no doubt about that,” he said.
He said his point was that the pay deal accepted by police should also be acceptable to other workers.
“If it is good enough for the Tasmanian police service, then I was hoping it might be appropriate to be accepted by other elements within the public service,” he said.
Police have agreed to pay rises of 3%, 3% and 2.75% over three years.
The clash comes after more than six months of failed negotiations and escalating industrial action across the public sector.
Negotiations with nurses, teachers and other public servants are continuing.
